A message from our President

We Don’t Just Build for Humans

At Doug Tarry Homes we “Don’t Just Build for Humans”. That’s a bold statement, one that could well have environmentalists decrying the loss of farmland. And they would have a point. It is a delicate balance between creating homes and communities, and maintaining responsible stewardship of the land we build on.

So why make the statement? Because it is important for us to recognize that we must serve a dual purpose as developers. Yes, we need to build those very communities where people - our customers, friends, and neighbors - will establish their homes, but we must never forget that plants and animals share this space with us.

You see, when we build a community, the local wildlife will find its way into and through it, whether we plan for this or ignore it. Here’s where a big part of the Doug Tarry Difference stands out from other developers. We naturalize areas such as trails, storm ponds, even portions of our green spaces. This is typically done using plant species that will attract pollinators such as birds, bees, and butterflies.

When we look at our trail network and green spaces, we consider how animals will migrate through and even live in our communities. If you are walking in an area such as Lake Margaret, look up; you just might come across an osprey family nesting on one of the platforms that my brother Greg constructed over the years.

What I find both interesting and extremely satisfying is that people within our communities also love these spaces. Getting back to nature and taking in the sights and smells of flowers in bloom, watching squirrels, chipmunks, frogs, birds, and other animals thrive in these enhanced habitats, are things we can all enjoy. This is part of our company’s DNA, to always leave the campsite better than we found it, something that was ingrained into the thinking of my siblings and I by our father, Doug Tarry Sr., on the many family canoe trips we took to Algonquin.

The next time you’re out for a walk in your community, take a moment to observe the nature that we’re providing and consider what you can do in your own yard to help us enhance what we give to the wildlife that share our land. And before you cut down the “weeds” behind your home, ask yourself what plant, animal or insect is this “weed” providing food or shelter to. It may well be there on purpose. Most importantly, take time to enjoy our shared trails and green spaces. It’s a great boost for your physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing.